HR specialists Waddington Brown collaborated with domestic abuse charity Lighthouse to highlight the effects of domestic abuse in the workplace and the impact it has on businesses.

Many employers are not trained to deal with the situation and with domestic abuse cases on the rise in Suffolk, the need for training and awareness has never been more important.

The event at Suffolk Foodhall near Ipswich raised £300 for Lighthouse.

Domestic abuse costs the UK economy £1.9bn every year. Reported cases suggest 25% of women are affected by domestic violence during their adult lifetimes, and 16% of men, though the true figures may be higher.

“Victims frequently find the workplace to be a safe haven — a place where they can feel normal, have friends, and feel valued. Without the financial resources that employment brings, they often have little hope for financial independence,” said Lighthouse’s Katherine Ahluwalia.

A 16-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in the car park of a McDonald’s restaurant in Ipswich during a violent fight in front of shocked members of the public, it has been alleged.

Author and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz visited Woodbridge to give a talk at Seckford Hall about his life and works. We caught up with him to talk about his home in Orford, his love for Suffolk and how he plans to spend eternity in the county.